Spirit of truth, who speaks to us in our hearts, let us not fear to hold to the truth, knowing that the darkness will entangle us and that, that we might find freedom and peace with you and one another in being true to you and to ourselves, through Jesus our teacher, who offered us the truth and now reigns with you and the Father in perfect joy forever and ever. Amen.
‘Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why, then, did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”‘ – Matthew 21:24-27